| This is Zig Ziglar's story which was part of | | | | Thanksgiving Day in 1946. |
| groundbreaking leadership research by has | | | | The summer after they were married, Zig's |
| received extensive endorsements and enthusiastic | | | | sandwich business died off. The couple began to |
| reviews from well-known prominent business, | | | | struggle financially. Zig got a job selling expensive |
| political, and academic leaders who either | | | | cookware through dinner parties, but he still had |
| participated in the study or reviewed the research | | | | his "inferiority complex." That was the case until |
| findings. You will discover the proven success | | | | an important talk and words of encouragement |
| habits and secrets of people who, in spite of | | | | from a respected mentor became the pivotal |
| difficult or life threatening challenges shaped their | | | | event that changed Zig's entire life. Ziglar proved |
| own destiny to become successful, effective | | | | his mentor right, moving from failure to success. |
| leaders. | | | | But Zig also faced many obstacles as a field |
| Ziglar's story was gathered as one of the initial | | | | manager, obstacles that were to test him in the |
| nine prominent leaders, that I interviewed, who | | | | extreme. |
| overcame adversity included: Dr. Tony Bonanzino, | | | | After his sales and sales management |
| U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, Monzer Hourani, U.S. | | | | experiences, Ziglar made a career change, |
| Senator Daniel Inouye, Dr. John Malone, Larry Pino, | | | | focusing his attention on becoming an |
| U.S. Army Major General Sid Shachnow, Dr. | | | | accomplished public speaker. He had not been |
| Blenda Wilson, and Zig Ziglar. | | | | attending church regularly, but he returned to it, |
| Additionally, five internationally known and | | | | becoming a devoted Christian. |
| respected leadership scholars offered their | | | | Zig Ziglar described in great detail the importance |
| reviews of the leadership research findings | | | | of his embracing Christianity: |
| including: Dr. Ken Blanchard, Jim Kouzes, Dr. John | | | | "My greatest help came in the form of my faith |
| Kotter, Dr. Paul Stoltz, and Dr. Meg Wheatley. | | | | when I became a Christian on July 4, 1972. As I |
| This is a short biography Zig Zigalr, as one of the | | | | came to realize how much God loved me, as a |
| principal participants who generously contributed | | | | result I loved myself more and respected myself |
| their time and insight for this important Doctoral | | | | more. Again, here was a factor in my life that |
| dissertation research into the phenomenon of how | | | | made a major difference." |
| prominent successful leaders overcome adversity | | | | Zig Ziglar talked about having "twenty-seven |
| and obstacles. | | | | mentors who helped shape my life." One of Zig's |
| This Zig Ziglar's story of overcoming adversity, | | | | "key mentor was Mr. P. C. Merrell." Merrell gave |
| personal success and hope: | | | | Zig a "major dose of encouragement after a |
| Zig Ziglar was born in 1926, in what he termed | | | | training session." Zig said "he pulled me aside and |
| "very modest circumstances" to a family that | | | | assured me that I could be the national champion; |
| was "financially challenged in many ways." He was | | | | I could be a great one." "I had been near the |
| "the tenth of twelve children born to a family | | | | bottom of the sales force of 7,000; I finished at |
| living in rural Mississippi." He lost his father at the | | | | number two by the end of the year." Zig was |
| age of five. Zig worked from an early age to | | | | able to "dramatically change [his] picture" of |
| support his family. He shared that he "had what | | | | himself "because of [his] mentor's words." |
| was known as an inferiority complex." Until "Judge" | | | | Zig commented that he could "now, for the first |
| Ziglar's untimely death, he worked hard in a very | | | | time, capitalize on his sales training, experience, |
| depressed economy to provide for his large | | | | frustration, and failures [he] had experienced |
| family. Zig said his Papa "was a thoughtful man | | | | during the last two and a half years in the field |
| possessed of great confidence. Everyone | | | | failing at selling." Zig pointed out that he "now had |
| respected his intelligence, fairness, and judgment." | | | | been tested and became more committed," and |
| Two days after his father's funeral, Zig's | | | | he "had more discipline," which enabled him "to be |
| 14-month-old baby sister also died. Zig's mother | | | | strong and succeed." |
| decided to move the family to the "big city" of | | | | Cavett Roberts, founder of the National Speakers |
| Yazoo City on the Mississippi River delta. His | | | | Association (NSA), who was one of Zig's many |
| mother was well-versed in the Bible and regularly | | | | mentors, personally persuaded Zig Ziglar to put his |
| quoted from it. "My mother was famous for her | | | | meaningful messages in writing and share them |
| 'one minute sermons.'" | | | | with the world. He did so. In fact, Zig has now |
| Zig worked his way through school, beginning with | | | | authored twenty-three books on leadership, |
| elementary school and continuing through his | | | | personal growth, sales, faith, family, and success. |
| college years. In 1943, Zig joined the Naval Air | | | | Cavett Roberts was one of Zig's biggest fans and |
| Corps. Zig said, "I never would have had a chance | | | | strongly encouraged Ziglar to not only write his |
| to get into college were it not for the V5 | | | | books, but to personally share his messages by |
| Program." He continued, "Despite being a poor | | | | speaking his unique perspective of hope and |
| student, I did well enough on my [Navy] Air Corps | | | | motivation at every opportunity/ |
| entrance exams to be accepted into the Navy's | | | | I have known Zig Ziglar for many years and |
| pre-flight training program." He entered Millsap | | | | attended several of his sales training and |
| College in July of 1944, as part of the Navy's V5 | | | | motivational sessions. One of Zig's trademark lines |
| program for Navy pilots. It was while he was | | | | sums up his attitude perfectly: "You can have |
| attending Millsap that he met and started dating | | | | everything in life you want if you will just help |
| Jean Abernathy. | | | | enough other people get what they want." For as |
| Zig was transferred to the University of South | | | | Paul Harvey is fond of saying "and now for the |
| Carolina by the Navy. When World War II ended | | | | rest of the story" read Zig's wonderful and |
| Zig continued to attend the University of South | | | | uplifting book "Zig: The Autobiography of Zig |
| Carolina, selling sandwiches to other students to | | | | Ziglar" (2002). |
| pay his expenses, and continued to court Jean | | | | Copyright 2006, 2009 © Howard Edward |
| Abernathy by mail. Zig and Jean were married on | | | | Haller, Ph.D. |